Textile design by Louise Collis of Loughborough.
New Designers is held every summer at the Business Design Centre in Islington and it’s a great one stop shop for anyone interested in the best up and coming new creative design talent, information pills boasting two weeks of exhibition to visit. I went along to week one to check out the best in textiles, viagra approved surface design, ceramics, glass, jewellery and craft, and I hope to also visit the second week which is currently taking place and features product design, photography, illustration and graphic design. It really is a crucial place to showcase work and snag the best graduate jobs: it was where I caught the eye of the gift card company I wanted to work for and was subsequently snapped up by a major textile print design agency when I graduated from the University of Brighton… Quadriga later folded and took all the money I earnt, thanks, but that’s another story.
My first stop was at Loughborough University, where my eye was caught by the laser etched wall panels of Louise Collis, who pounced on me the minute I revealed my camera. She’s created a stunning range of interiors textiles that she displayed on padded stools and as cushions.
Next door Olivia Streatfield-James had produced some wonderful monochrome animal prints.
Gillian Armstrong had gone for a flowery theme, but her bold use of colour and shape made sure it stood out. Check out Gillian Armstrong’s blogspot here.
Stacey Laura Houghton was inspired by mathematical equations and radical design to create these stunning neon light shades.
Design by Louise Collis.
Turns out that Loughborough University turns out a very high standard of print graduate. I would have stayed longer to admire the rest but I got frightened out of the area by my constant need to justify why I’d like to take pictures – I understand student’s reticence in case ideas are nicked by big commercial companies but it’s also surely a good thing to get some much needed press… and they should have websites showcasing their work anyway!
At Leeds College of Art Carrie Osborne had won the Tigerprint award for her very detailed and possibly quite commercial wallpaper and fabric designs. My favourite were the unabashedly out there floral designs. Follow Carrie Osborne on twitter here.
Round the back I met Damien Barlow, who stood out with his illustrative papercut designs. We had a bit of a chat and he expressed excitement at his sudden discovery of the powers of twitter – interest from magazines within seconds. I’m not surprised because his work is ace.
He starts with text and then layers images around the words. Dinosaurs roaming amongst billowing clouds would be ideal for kiddie’s books, which he told me he has considered. He also has a zine and some exhibitions in the pipeline. I look forward to hearing more ideas soon. Follow Damien Barlow on Twitter.
Leeds College of Art also produced the New Designer of the Year 2011, Louise Tiler, so they must be doing something right!
Next up: Surface Design. Part Two of New Designers continues until Saturday 9th July 2011. Follow New Designers on Twitter for updates.
Categories ,2011, ,Business Design Centre, ,Carrie Osborne, ,dinosaurs, ,fashion, ,Furnishings, ,Gillian Armstrong, ,Graduate Shows, ,Islington, ,Leeds College of Art, ,Lighting, ,Loughborough University, ,Louise Collis, ,Louise Tiler, ,New Designer of the Year 2011, ,New Designers, ,Olivia Streatfield-James, ,Quadriga, ,Stacey Laura Houghton, ,surface design, ,Textile Design, ,textiles, ,Tigerprint, ,University of Brighton
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